Children's Mental Health Problems and the Need for Social Inclusion

1. Children's Mental Health Problems and the Need for Social Inclusion November 18, 2008 www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov

2. Contact Us SAMHSA ADS Center11420 Rockville PikeRockville, MD 20852 Toll free: 1-800-540-0320Fax: 240-747-5470Web: www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.govE-mail: promoteacceptance@samhsa.hhs.gov The Moderator for this call is Holly Reynolds Lee. www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov

3. Disclaimer The views expressed in this training event do not necessarily represent the views, policies, and positions of the Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov

4. Questions? At the end of the speaker presentations, you will be able to ask questions. You may submit your question by pressing ’*1’ on your telephone keypad. You will enter a queue and be allowed to ask your question in the order in which it was received. On hearing the conference operator announce your name, you may proceed with your question. www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov

5. Speakers Darcy Gruttadaro, JD, Director of the Child & Adolescent Action Center at NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness Under Ms. Gruttadaro’s direction, NAMI’s Child & Adolescent Action Center focuses on building effective partnerships, addressing the needs of families and caregivers, and driving the debate in reforming the children’s mental health system. Ms. Gruttadaro serves on many national task forces, coalitions, and has been an advisor on multiple National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) research grant projects. Before joining NAMI in 2000, Ms. Gruttadaro worked as an independent legal advisor and policy analyst for the American Managed Behavioral Healthcare Association (AMBHA) and practiced law with the law firm of Harris, Beach & Wilcox.  She also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Kenneth R. Fisher in the U.S. District Court in the Western District of New York. Ms. Gruttadaro earned her Juris Doctor degree from Western New England College School of Law and her Bachelor of Science degree from Clarkson University. www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov

6. Speakers Brianne Masselli, Youth Coordinator, Thrive Brianne Masselli is the Youth Coordinator for Thrive, Maine’s Trauma Informed System of Care. Brianne has overcome much adversity within her adolescent years that motivated her to pursue a career in social services. Ms. Masselli has utilized her personal experience in the system to advocate, empower and create systems change. Ms. Masselli received her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology from Johnson & Wales University in Providence Rhode Island. Ms. Masselli currently is a member of Youth M.O.V.E National and is enrolled at University of South Florida for the certificate program for Children’s Mental Health. www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov

7. Speakers Deborah Cavitt, Project Coordinator, Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health Deborah Cavitt is a project coordinator for Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health, a non-profit statewide organization providing education and advocacy for parents and professionals. Deborah works with schools, children, parents, and professionals to educate and advocate in order to increase understanding and reduce stigma related to children’s mental health disorders.   Deborah has a master’s degree in human services and a Minnesota Teaching Certification. She was a teacher for more than 20 years working mostly on the White Earth Indian Reservation in Northern Minnesota. She has also worked as a substance abuse prevention specialist in Iowa. She formed and coordinated the Washington County Safe Coalition in Washington, Iowa through SAMHSA’s Drug Free Communities Support Program Grant. www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov

8. More information • For more information, contact: • Darcy Gruttadaro, JD • 703-516-7965 • darcy@nami.org • www.nami.org • Brianne MasselliDeborah Cavitt • 207-782-5783, ext. 1602 651-644-7333 • bmassell@tcmhs.orgdcavitt@macmh.org • http://tcmhs.orghttp://macmh.org/ www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov

9. Children’s Mental Health and the Need for Social Inclusion Resource Center to Promote Acceptance, Dignity, and Social Inclusion ~ November 2008 Darcy Gruttadaro, Director NAMI Child & Adolescent Action Center

10. Overview of Children’s MH • 10% of C&A in the US suffer from MI that causes significant functional impairment in their day-to-day lives at home, in school and with peers (Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General, 1999). • 50% of cases of MI begin by age 14 and on average it takes ~ 8-10 years between onset of symptoms and intervention (NIMH, 2005). • About 20% of C&A with MI are identified and receive MH services (Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General, 1999).

11. Framing the Discussion Challenges in Promoting Social Inclusion: The Child Perspective • Symptoms impact behavior, mood, the ability to learn, to follow rules, and to get along with others. • Children with MI are often teased, ridiculed, bullied, and rejected. • Results in low self-esteem and social isolation.

12. Framing the Discussion Challenges in Promoting Social Inclusion: The Child Perspective • Children often feel sad, odd, and different and as if no one likes them. • Often not invited to social events (birthday parties and sleepovers), or asked to join social activities (pick up games, playground games), and are just plain left out.

13. Framing the Discussion Challenges in Promoting Social Inclusion: The Family Perspective • Shame and blame – families are asked what is going on at home, families ask themselves what is going on, is it my fault. • Social withdrawal – MI is often loaded with baggage – stigma, misunderstanding, and myths. • Families often experience confusion, sadness and frustration with changes in their child. • Extended family may not accept a diagnosis. • Siblings struggle too … often wondering what if friends come over and my sibling acts out … how does all of this reflect on me.

14. Framing the Discussion Predictable Stages of Emotional Reaction for Many Families … • Dealing with the Catastrophic Event – crisis/shock, denial, hoping-against-hope. • Learning to Cope – anger/guilt, recognition that this is reality, grief over uncertain future for the child and family. • Moving into Advocacy – understanding what the child is going through, acceptance, and action. Families learn they are not alone.

15. Framing the Discussion Challenges that children face in school: • Labeled as bad, lazy, or dumb. • Punitive measures taken that socially isolate the student – special chair, loss of recess, time out, and more. • Students lack friends, are not included in group activities and are made to feel like an outsider. • Many students refuse to go to school … but school professionals can also actively seek to make the student feel more welcome.

16. Framing the Discussion Moving from Isolation to Inclusion … • Education is key -- stigma reduction through education and awareness building about MI for children, adults and child-serving professionals (TV and media). • Share stories that include children and adults with MI in a positive light and that show positive outcomes with early and effective services and supports. • Remove feelings of blame for families and find opportunities to offer support. • Communicate that MI is an illness like any other and with the right interventions, nearly all children can reach their full potential. • Find creative and innovative ways to help children feel valued, to help them develop friendships, and to help them know that people care about them.

17. Contact Information Darcy Gruttadaro Email: darcy@nami.org Visit our web site: www.nami.org/CAAC

18. Personal Story By Brianne Masselli www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov

19. Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health Innovative Projects to Raise Awareness Reduce Stigma And Create Positive Images of Young People with Mental Health Disorders

20. Open Up Multi-Media Campaign Teens Take On Stigma

22. Recognizing Children’s Mental Health Disorders A friend may be the first to see a mental health problem. By understanding the nature of mental health and what to do next, friends can support each other and make it OK to ask for help!

23. On The Street Interviews Regarding Attitudes Towards Mental Health Disorders

24. A Teen with Bi-Polar Disorder Emphasizes Her Strengths

25. A Parent Catalyst Shares the Story of Her Family’s Challenges Navigating the Systems of Mental Health

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36. Expressions of the Mind Through Art By Minnesota Youth MACMH’s Annual Benefit College of Visual Arts Gallery Helping Young Artists Reduce the Fear and Misunderstanding that Surrounds Mental Health

37. Celebrating With Art, Music, Poetry,Drama, and Hip-Hop Created By Youth With Mental Health Disorders

38. Minnesota Association For Children’s Mental Health Deborah Cavitt dcavitt@macmh.org 165 Western Avenue North Saint Paul, MN 55102 http://www.macmh.org/ Phone: 651-644-7333 Phone: 1-800-528-4511 Fax: 651-644-7391

39. Resources American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Services In School For Children With Special Needs: What Parents Need To Know http://aacap.org/page.ww?name=Services+in+School+for+Children+with+Special+Needs:+What+Parents+Need+to+Know&section=Facts+for+Families Caring for Every Child's Mental Health Campaign (SAMHSA) http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/child/ Children’s Defense Fund, Child Welfare and Mental Health Division http://www.childrensdefense.org/site/PageNavigator/policy_cwmh Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health, http://www.ffcmh.org/ www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov

40. Resources NAMI Utah’s Hope for Tomorrow, http://www.namiut.org/hope.htm Pathways to Promise, Working with the Family - Impact of Mental Illness on Families http://www.pathways2promise.org/family/impact.htm School-Age Children's Perceptions of Mental Illness by Ada Spitzer and Cheryl Cameron, originally published in the Western Journal of Nursing Research http://wjn.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/17/4/398 Stigmatizing Media Images Affect Children by Otto Whal, Ph.D. http://www1.nmha.org/newsroom/stigma/wahl/index.cfm Youth M.O.V.E. National, http://youthmove.us/ www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov

41. Survey We value your suggestions. Within 24 hours of this teleconference, you will receive an e-mail request to participate in a short, anonymous online survey about today’s training material. Survey results will be used to determine what resources and topic areas need to be addressed by future training events. The survey will take approximately five minutes to complete. Survey participation requests will be sent to all registered event participants who provided e-mail addresses at the time of their registration. Each request message will contain a Web link to our survey tool. Please call 1-800-540-0320 if you have any difficulties filling out the survey online. Thank you for your feedback and cooperation. Written comments may be sent to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) ADS Center via e-mail at promoteacceptance@samhsa.hhs.gov. www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov